London to Mumbai by Road 2016 – Revisited
Day 14 – 10 September 2016
New Friends in Moscow
After several days of long-distance driving, it was a pleasure to spend another day at the excellent Sokolniki Campsite in Moscow. The campsite was beautifully maintained, surrounded by greenery, and provided a peaceful base from which to explore the Russian capital. The only slight disappointment was the Wi-Fi connection, which was rather unreliable. We managed to take plenty of photographs during the day and hoped to upload them whenever we found a stronger internet connection.
One of the great joys of travelling by motorhome is meeting fellow travellers from around the world, and today proved to be a perfect example.
At the campsite, we met a wonderful French couple, Alain and his wife Hélène, from Paris. They were undertaking their own remarkable round-the-world journey in a motorhome and were even towing a motorbike behind them to help explore places once they parked up.
As if that wasn’t interesting enough, we also met another traveller named Alan, a 44-year-old adventurer from China, who was travelling with his 74-year-old father. Since May, they had been touring Europe and Scandinavia in their Chinese-built motorhome. Listening to their stories made us realise just how universal the spirit of adventure truly is. Regardless of nationality, language, or age, we all shared the same passion for discovering the world.
In the morning, Team Kontiki set off to explore Moscow. We took a tram-bus to the nearest Metro station and then travelled into the city centre using Moscow’s famous underground railway system. The Metro itself was an attraction, with its impressive stations, grand architecture, and efficient service.
Our destination was the world-famous Red Square, the historic heart of Moscow and one of Russia’s most iconic landmarks. However, upon arrival, we discovered that a large carnival and public celebrations were taking place. Much of Red Square was closed to visitors, and the sightseeing buses we had hoped to use had been cancelled.
At first, this seemed disappointing, but as the day unfolded, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
The carnival atmosphere was vibrant and full of life. There were performances, music, food stalls, exhibitions, and crowds of smiling people enjoying the festivities. We spent much of the day soaking up the atmosphere and wandering through the enormous underground shopping centre nearby, which seemed to stretch endlessly beneath the city.
The weather was ideal for sightseeing. During the day it was pleasantly warm, while the evenings remained refreshingly cool.
By the time we returned to the campsite, we had experienced a side of Moscow that many tourists never get to see. Sometimes the best travel experiences come from unexpected changes of plan.
The highlight of the day, however, was still to come.
That evening, our little international community gathered together at the campsite. The French travellers, the Chinese father-and-son team, and Team Kontiki all came together to exchange stories from the road. Although we came from three different countries and spoke different languages, we shared a common bond—the love of adventure and life on the road.
We prepared a curry and invited everyone to join us. As the food was served and drinks began to flow, the conversation became livelier. Stories were exchanged about difficult border crossings, mechanical breakdowns, beautiful landscapes, unexpected friendships, and future travel plans.
Laughter filled the evening air as we compared experiences from different corners of the world.
It was one of those magical travel moments that cannot be planned or bought. Strangers from three nations had met by chance in a campsite on the outskirts of Moscow and spent an unforgettable evening together.
Long after the sun had gone down, we were still talking, laughing, and enjoying each other’s company.
It was, without doubt, an evening in Moscow that none of us would ever forget.
Location: Sokolniki Campsite, Moscow, Russia
Weather: Warm during the day, cool at night
Highlights: Visiting Moscow, experiencing the carnival atmosphere, and meeting fellow overland travellers from France and China
Special moment: Sharing food, drinks, and travel stories with new international friends
Join us tomorrow as Team Kontiki continues its epic journey eastwards, leaving Moscow behind and venturing deeper into the vast landscapes of Russia on the long road to Mumbai.
